Say it isn’t so! We are potato chip lovers. There’s simply nothing that can take the place of a good potato chip. Or is there?

Introducing Artisan Tropic’s Cassava strips (or chips)—a body-friendly snack. Body friendly? Cassava is not a night-shade plant (like potatoes); therefore, it does not cause inflammation. For any potato chip lover who also fights inflammation, cassava chips may be of interest.

Denser than a potato chip with a heartier crunch, the taste is eerily similar to that of a potato. These chips will stand up to any dip, they won’t get soggy, and the “strip” form makes them better for dipping than round chips.

Cassava is interesting. It’s a root vegetable or tuber and is sometimes referred to as yuca. It has notes of nuttiness in flavor and is shaped similar to a sweet potato. It is a source of resistant starch that can nurture beneficial gut bacteria. Plus, the leaves of a cassava plant also can be eaten, and they can contain up to 25 percent protein.

Cassava is the third largest crop in Colombia behind coffee and plantains. It is popular because it is a hardy crop that is resistant to drought.

There is one drawback to cassava. While you can eat potatoes raw, you don’t want to eat cassava in its raw form. Raw cassava contains toxic levels of cyanide, so it’s important to prepare cassava correctly for consumption (i.e. cook thoroughly).

Artisan Tropic is a family business, clear down to the plantain farmer’s son who married into the family. It’s not only a family business, but one built on the passion for health, positive attitudes, and a people-first mantra. This family clearly understands it takes hard work to create a successful business (starting in 2014), and they show gratitude through giving back.

This company has two products: plaintains and cassava. We like how they focus on two products, ensuring the best possible snacks. Their products are gluten free, vegan, paleo, non-gmo and have no artificial flavors or preservatives. This is clean-label snacking at its finest, and for that we give Artisan Tropic’s products and its family-run company a big IMBHO-yes!

Artisan Tropic: “We want to be the change we desire to see in Colombia.”